Lena Marie Schilt was born in Moordrecht, South Holland, the Netherlands on November 25, 1917. Her parents were Adrianus and Elizabeth VerWaal Schilt. At the age of 5 years Lena, her parents and two of her siblings, Gerrit age 13 years and Francene age 8 years, came to the United States an settled near Percy, Iowa. Lena received an elemnentary education there near Runnells, Iowa and at Prairie City and Monroe, Iowa. As a young girl she worked at the Rolscreen Company in Pella, Iowa while making her residence with Mildred(Van Zee)Poortinga. On October 10, 1941, she was united in marriage with Gerald John Van Zee, a son of Dick J. and Margaret Vande Gaarde Van Zee. They were married at the farm home of her parents near Pella and to this union three daughters were born: Marla Beth, Diane Ruth and Lora Gayle. Lena and Gerald lived in Pella following thir marriage until moving to a farm west of Pella near Otley, Iowa. In 1956 they moved back to Pella where Gerald became the operator of Klyn Tractor Service. He also served as a substitute rural mail carrier and as a member of the Pella Volunteer Fire Department. On June 2, 1982, he passed away at the age of 64 years. Prior to his death Lena had worked at the Pella Overall Factory and for over 30 years was a clerk at Jaarsma Bakery in Pella, almost a fixture. Lena was always a very determined person and gained despite her infirmities. She was not able to continue her high school education as a teenager but obtained her G.E.D. in her mid 50's. She kept a daily diary, read a lot, passed her driving test and was determined to take a computer course in the public library even at the age of 80+ years. Her hands in later years did not reflect her sewing skills, but her daughters remember well her skills as a seamstress. Lena enjoyed going to the Iowa State Fair annually and taking vacation trips with her grandsons. She thoroughly enjoyed having visitors and sharing coffee times with them. Early Monday morning, May 9, 2011, the day following Mothers Day, Leana passed away suddenly in the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella at the age of 93 years.

Those who will cherish her memory are her three daughters and their families. They are: Marla and Kenneth Nossaman of Pella, Iowa, Linda and Stephen Ewankowich, Susan and Douglas Roozeboom: Zachary, Matthew, Claire, Julie and James Drost: Nicole, Diane Van Gorp of Urbandale, Iowa: Timothy and Laurie Van Gorp: Catherine, Timothy,Matthew(Rusty)Van Gorp, Lori and Donald Kramer of Ankeny, Iowa: Rachel Kramer and Keith Bonar, Sarah and James Simone: Jackson.

Lena leaves her sister, Francene(Francis)Poortinga of Pella and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Van Zee; her parents, Andrew and Elizabeth Schilt; her parents-in-law, Dick and Mrgaret Van Zee; her two brothers, her oldest brother Bertus Schilt a member of the Dutch Army and Gerrit Schilt a World War II veteran; her brother-in-law, Francis Poortinga; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Betty(Van Zee) and Albert Vander Peut, Mildred(Van Zee)and Harold Poortingws, Marvin M. and Alma Van Zee. Lena was a faithful member of the First Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 10:30 am First Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa. Interment will folow in the Oskwood Cemetery at Pella, Iowa. Memorials may be designated for Crossroads of Pella.